The incandescent lamp has given way to the compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs) which is more energy-efficient. The CFL is likely to be phased out gradually by the Light Emitting Diode. The arrival of LED bulbs in the market is expected to have an impressive impact on energy conservation schemes, according to experts in the field.
The Energy Management Centre, an autonomous organisation under the State Department of Power, will introduce LED lamps under the energy saving schemes to be launched in the next phase of solar energy programmes. Such an approach would enable solar energy-powered household units to have own power system independent of the Kerala State Electricity Board, Dharesan Unnithan, Director, EMC, told The Hindu.
LED lights which cost Rs.1,500 earlier are now available at Rs.500, he said. The prices are expected to come down further.
The EMC has already undertaken a programme to replace CFLs with LEDs in municipalities.
Those local bodies which do not have separate funds for installing LEDs, which are capital intensive in nature, there are energy service companies which fund the programme under the condition that part of the money derived from the energy saving is made available to the investor.
Asked about the reliability of the LED lamp, he said though many of the companies are outsourcing the LED light from countries such as China, there are reputed companies in India which ensure quality in the outsourced material. There are companies which guarantee 15,000 hours of working for LED lamps, almost thrice that of CFLs.
Georgekutty Karianapally, a manufacturer of solar energy-based products and LED lighting systems, said the 250 Watt sodium vapour lamp used for streetlights could be replaced by 80 Watt LED lamps, saving a huge amount of energy across the State. The LED lamps are three times efficient than the CFLs, he said.
People who want to switch over to LED would have to be weary of duplicates and sub-standard lights. Both superior and inferior quality materials are available in the market. Some of the well known brands are outsourcing LED lights from countries like China, but that country has units which make material of high quality though sub-standard material could also be sourced from there by the importing companies with a view to offering low-cost products, he said.
